Belthangady : Valuable timber  of Porli, Uppalige and Mavu varieties which was being transported illegally in a vehicle was seized by the Belthangady police on August 12, Monday  at Gerukatte Parapu in Kaliya village. A Swaraj Mazda vehicle and a car have been seized. The value of the wood is estimated at Rs one lakh.

Police arrested seven persons while one person who was in the car escaped. Those arrested are Abdul Jubair, Monu alias Abdul Reheman, P M Tasmeer, Abdul Salam, Niyaz, Yathiraj and Khader. The man who escaped is identified as Aboobakker Nala.

The wood was found concealed under tarpaulin sheets.